Atomizers



April 1963 E. DE KOLB ATOMIZERS Filed Dec. 15, 1961 FIG. 1

I /ll FIG. 3

INVENTOR 5 44% BY ATTORNEY United States 3,086,716 ATGMHZERS Eric DeKolb, New York, N.Y., assignor to Coty, lnc., New York, N.Y., acorporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 159,545 1 Claim.(Q1. 239333) This invention relates to atomizers and more particularlyto a dispenser atomizer incorporated into the cap of a perfume bottle orthe like.

Conventional atomizer dispensers capable of producing a fine mist arerelatively bulky and add appreciably to the over-all size of a containerwith which they are used. Further, they are usually complex andaccordingly expensive.

This invention comprises a reliable yet simplified atomizer dispensedconstruction which may be built into the container cap with manyattendant advantages.

The invention will be further understood from the following descriptionand figures in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through the capatomizer, the operating button being locked in the inoperative position;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 1 but with the operatingbutton released;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken substantially along the line 33 of FIGURE 1;and

FIGURE 4 is a view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

The container may be of glass, plastic, or any other desired material.It has a threaded neck 11 on which the cap atomizer dispenser isscrewed.

Cap body 12 is shown to be ornamentally formed though it may assume anyouter shape. It is formed with a central longitudinal bore 13 in whichis disposed the dispensing and atomizing apparatus.

The inner wall 14 of bore 13 has diametrically opposite bosses 15 whichserve to lock the operating button. Said inner wall 14 is also formedwith an annular step 16 against which seats the pump, all as willhereinafter be explained. Also formed in cap body 12 is a shallowlocating groove 17 so that the pumping apparatus may be properlyoriented when first installed. Formed through groove 17 is outlet port18. A hollow closure plug 19 having a finger tip prying extension 21frictionally fits into port 18 to close the same when the device is notin use.

The pump 21 comprises a central tube 22 which forms a chamber andextends for substantially the full length of the pump, narrowing down atits lower end 22a. Fitted into lower end 22a is an elongated plastictube 23 which dips into the perfume as far as the base of the bottle 19as is conventional.

Integrally formed around tube 22 is downwardly depending outer skirt 24.Skirt 24 is formed with an outer annular ridge 25 which seats againststep 16 to limit the inward disposition of the pump. Skirt 24 serves asa liner for the lower end of bore 13'.

Inner wall 26 of skirt 24 is threaded complementarily with threadedbottle neck 11 for connecting the apparatus to the bottle. integrallyformed with tube 22 and skirt 24 is rectangular enlargement 27 whichfits into shallow groove 17 so as to properly orient the pump apparatuswhen first installed. Enlargement 27 is formed with a horizontal bore orlateral outlet chamber 23 which communicates with the interior of tube22 by means of hole 29.

Disposed within central tube 22 is vertically reciprocatory plunger 30having upper central hollow 31. Its lower end 32 is cupped and serves asa terminal or seat for compression spring 33. Spring 33 iscircumferentially enlarged along its lower end, the enlargement thereofbeing seated in annular seat 34 formed in the inner wall of 3,086,715Patented Apr. 23, 1963 ice tube 22. Accordingly, spring 33 cannotdescend further than its seated position.

Further formed in the lower end of tube 22 is ball seat 35 in which isnormally and freely seated ball valve 36.

Disposed in horizontal bore 28 is metal discharge tube 37 which isfrictionally held therein. Tube 37 has an outer wall 38 in which isformed a dispensing hole 39. In order to produce atomization of theliquid perfume, a plug 40 is fitted into tube 37. Plug 40 has an endannular enlargement 41. The surface of plug 40 is formed withlongitudinal parallel narrow grooves 42 through which the perfume isforced as will hereinafter be explained. Accordingly, the perfume isbroken up into a mist and is dispensed in atomized form through hole 39.It will be observed that grooves 42 extend radially into the front faceof plug 40 so as to jointly terminate adjacent to hole 39.

Gasket 45 is of polyethylene or the like and is interposed between thebottle neck lip and the underside of skirt 24.

Central operating button 46 is slidably or reciprocably disposed withinbore 13 of cap 12. It is formed with a central finger 47 which fits intohollow 31 of plunger 30. Formed on the lower edge of button 46 arediametrically opposite ears 48 which co-act with bosses 15 so as toeither lock the button 46 in a downward, inoperative position asillustrated in FIGURE 3, or permit limited rotation thereof in theupward posiiton illustrated in FIGURE 2. Ears 43 also meet ledge 49 inthe upper position of the button 46 as illustrated in FIGURE 2 so as toprevent outward displacement of the button. Fitted into button 46 isplastic liner 50 although it may be integral with the button.

The device is operated as follows:

Normally the button 46 is in its locked, downward position, the bosses15 engaging the ears 48 as illustrated in FIGURE 3. At this time, theclosure plug 19 is in port 18, covering the dispensing tube 37. When itis desired to dispense the perfume, the closure plug 19 is pryed olf.Thereafter, the button 46 is slightly pressed down manually and rotateduntil the ears 48 pass the bosses 15. At this time the spring 33 willpush the button 46 to its upward position shown in FIGURE 2.

Next the button 46 is pumped repeatedly against the action of spring 33.At each stroke it forces the air within tube 22 through the dispensingtube 37, while ball valve 36 is forced against its seat. When the button46 is released at each stroke, the pressure within tube 22 is lowered sothat perfume rises in dip tube 23 and fills tub 22, unseating the ball36 as it does so. This will continue until tube 22 is full of perfume,probably taking about three or four strokes to do so. When it is full,the next stroke will not only seat the ball forcefully by hydraulicpressure, but the perfume will be forced through hole 29, grooves 42 andout of hole 39 in an atomized spray. The user will continue suchspraying as desired and may lock the button again by the depressing androtating action above described.

It will be recognized from the foregoing that I have provided anatomizer apparatus within the confines of the cap 12 with the advantagesof conserving space while providing most eflicient action. When theoperating button 46 is in its downward or locked position it issubstantially recessed within the cap body 12 as observed in FIGURES land 3 so that not only is compactness achieved but the possibilty ofactuating the pump mechanism accidentally is minimized.

There has been shown what is now considered a preferred embodiment ofthe invention but it is obvious that changes and omissions may be madewithout departing from its spirit.

What is claimed is:

A combined bottle cap and atomizer comprising a hollow cap body havingscrew threads for connecting the cap body to a threaded bottle neck, apump within the hollow cap body and having a central hollow tube, and avertically reciprocatory plunger and valve means disposed in said tube,said plunger being operative to lower the pressure within said tube whensaid plunger is reciprocated, a fixed lateral outlet chamber formed insaid body and communicating with said hollow tube, atomizing anddischarge means in said outlet chamber, and a reciprocatory operatingbutton connected to said plunger, said button being verticallyreciprocable from above said body to an inward position substantiallyrecessed Within said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Dinneen May 25, Threm Sept. 7, Bacheller Apr. 3, CotterSept. 18, Cornelius July 29, Leshin May 7, Fedit June 26,

